Car Review: 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid

The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid has the nice new design that has made the model a standout for Ford.

PHOTO: Kevin Mio, The Gazette

The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid's interior is comfortable and features the MyFord Touch system in the centre stack.

PHOTO: Kevin Mio, The Gazette

The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid has a nice silhouette thanks to the steeply raked glass.

PHOTO: Kevin Mio, The Gazette

The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid's badging on the front doors.

PHOTO: Kevin Mio, The Gazette

The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid's rear end is topped capped by a spoiler, which is part of an optional package.

PHOTO: Kevin Mio, The Gazette

By Kevin Mio, The Gazette

Originally published: May 7, 2013

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

Like most places in Canada, spring was slow to arrive in Montreal this year, with cold and snow lingering well after the “official” start of the season.

Despite that, I spent the last week of March watching leaves grow – just not on the oak tree in front of my house.

Instead, I did my best to grow them myself in the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid’s display cluster, called SmartGauge with EcoGuide, which rewarded good driving with new buds and, conversely, punished bad habits by killing some off. Nobody wants to kill buds, right?

And it’s hard not to like a car that even thanks you for driving at the end of your route. How polite.

And on top of being polite, the Fusion Hybrid is downright attractive and has plenty to offer. The perfect combination, some might say.

Pricing for the Fusion Hybrid starts at a reasonable $29,999. Optional equipment on my Platinum White — a paint choice that costs an extra $300 — raised the final price to $35,249 (including freight and preparation).

That price isn’t too much of a premium on the gasoline-only Fusion, and the hybrid model isn’t even the most expensive trim in the lineup – which hybrids usually are. For the Fusion, that title belongs to the Titanium trim.

DESIGN

Like all 2013 Fusions, the hybrid benefits from new styling that is eye-catching and will have you searching for Ford’s oval logo because this definitely doesn’t look like anything else from the North American brand.

Up front, you have the large chrome grille that dominates the car’s look, flanked by sleek headlight assemblies that give the front a somewhat menacing look — especially with the lights turned on.

The Fusion’s profile is enhanced by steeply raked front and rear glass, which makes this four-door sedan look more like a coupe.

The exterior look is enhanced even further thanks to an $800 appearance package that adds 18-inch premium painted sports wheels and a rear spoiler.

Once inside, the Fusion’s cabin manages to feel open and spacious despite the predominance of black.

Some of the issues I experienced with fit and finish in a test of a gasoline-only Fusion a few months ago weren’t a factor in this vehicle.

It was nice to have the optional heated seats ($600) and the navigation system ($700), a pair of added features that make life in the cabin more comfortable. And the heated seats got put to good use with the rather cold beginning to spring in Montreal.

Another nice touch in the cabin was the red accent stitching on the black cloth seats. It adds a sporty flair to an interior that is already quite stylish.

Another feature I haven’t always been a fan of is the MyFord Touch system, however, it becomes easier to use each time I am exposed to it, so that is positive.

PERFORMANCE

The heart pumping inside the Fusion Hybrid is a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder Atkinson-Cycle engine coupled with an electric motor.

Power output from the gasoline engine is 141 horsepower and 129 foot-pounds of torque, with total power increasing to 188 horsepower when the electric motor kicks in.

Unlike the rest of the Fusion lineup, which has either a six-speed manual of six-speed automatic, the hybrid is fitted with a continuously variable transmission. While I have been leery of some CVTs on the market, the one in the Fusion didn’t disappoint.

Fuel efficiency for the Fusion hybrid is rated at 4 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 4.1 L/100 km on the highway. My average came in at 6 L/100 km which, despite being higher than the estimated figures, is still much better than you would see in the gasoline-only Fusion.

The Fusion Hybrid recovers power through regenerative braking, which recharges the lithium-ion battery pack in the trunk.

DRIVING/UTILITY

Like any hybrid, the Fusion will achieve optimal performance only when the person behind the wheel drives with gentler touch.

If you do so, Mother Nature and your wallet will thank you for reducing the amount of fuel you burn.

The Fusion will automatically switch to electric-only (EV) mode when the conditions permit, and I was able to travel on electric power for 168.3 kilometres out of 385 I drove with the Fusion Hybrid.

Seating for five in this sedan is fairly comfortable, with a good amount of legroom for back-seat passengers.

Sightlines out of the Fusion are excellent, making driving it enjoyable. Even with the good views, parking is made a little easier thanks to some additional equipment, including the reverse sensing system ($400) and rear-view camera ($700)

Cargo capacity in the hybrid is 12 cubic feet, a drop of four cubic feet from the gasoline-only Fusion.